Report on Sunday Schools in the Salt Lake Stake

the Salt Lake Stake, said: There are forty-one Sunday schools in the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, having a total membership of some 10,199. Our increase during the past year was 944. So the remarks of Assistant General Superintendent Reynolds certainly do not apply to the Salt Lake Stake in regard to the matter of increase. ¶

Our Stake Sunday School Union Board was organized last November. It consists of 19 members, four of whom are sisters. We are proud of our Stake board, and feel that its members are working together as nicely as possible for the advancement of the interests of the Sunday schools. The superintendency meet generally twice a month in council meeting. The Stake board also meets twice a month. We visit the schools, on an average, about once in six weeks, and enjoy our labors to a very marked degree. Two special points we have been concentrating upon during the last year — the importance of superintendents holding regular monthly council meetings, and also of holding the officers and teachers' 9:45 prayer meeting. I am pleased to state that all of the schools in the stake, with the exception of two or three, observe this prayer meeting, and the number of superintendents who have acted upon the suggestion to hold regular council meetings is increasing. ¶

We are impressed with the importance of missionary work in this Stake of Zion; and notwithstanding that five Sunday schools were organized last year and one this year, we still feel that there is opportunity in several wards for the organization of branch or cottage Sunday schools, whereby the children can be brought together, without being compelled to go such great distances. ¶

We have adopted the method of classifying the Stake work among several committees of the Stake board. We have one committee known as the committee on appointments, conferences, branch schools and missionary work, another on lessons and school work, another on grade, discipline, special features, anniversaries, etc., another on Sunday school choristers and music. and still another on secretaries, libraries and janitors. Since the organization, four of them have gone to work, and we have been giving the subjects presented by these committees as careful consideration as our experience and judgment enable us to do. ¶

We feel that we are now entering upon a very important period of growth of the Sunday school work. With the adoption of the "Outlines" and of more systematic methods we feel that there is a promising period before us. We desire to be united with the general Sunday school board and to carry out the instructions received from them. ¶

We labored last year to make our Sunday school conference a success, and while it required considerable drilling and labor, we think it repaid our efforts. We are now trying, in accordance with the recommendations of the Board, to have the Sunday schools hold annual Sunday school ward conferences. and we have already taken part in a number of these conferences. The preparation that is made enables the schools to make progress, it enables the officers to see what is being done, and it is beneficial in many ways. ¶

I appreciate very much the responsibility that rests upon me in connection with my associates. We are working in perfect harmony and are striving to cultivate the spirit of our calling. We feel that it is a field that is worthy of every sacrifice and effort that we can put forth. May the Lord bless one and all, from the General Superintendent to the least that may be engaged in the Sunday school work, to the glory of our Father in Heaven, and in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶